The Arraignment of Michael GallowMichael Gallow was arraigned before Cayuga County Judge Thomas Leone in Auburn’s Historic Post Office building on Thursday March 31, 2011 on second degree murder and third degree criminal possession of a weapon. The 28 year old Scipio man is charged with the March 12th shooting death of his father, Bernard Gallow, who retired from the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Department in 2008. If convicted of the murder charge Gallow could be sentenced to a maximum 25 years to life imprisonment. In this video, Gallow’s defense attorney talks about the arraignment and the emotional state of his client. Video by Stephen D. Cannerelli (2:09)

A 28-year-old Scipio Center man today pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of his father, a retired Cayuga County sheriff’s deputy.

Michael Gallow, of 2301 Sherwood Road, entered the plea at his arraignment in Cayuga County Court, where his father, Bernard Gallow, used to work as a part-time security officer.

Gallow, who was led shackled into court by two deputies, is accused of killing his father in an unattached garage outside the home they shared on March 12.

The elder Gallow was shot once in the head by a .22-caliber rifle, according to investigators. A motive had yet to be publicly released, but attorney Simon Moody, who is representing Michael Gallow, said his client and father were brawling before the alleged shooting.

"He said (to investigators) that his Dad was beating him up,'' Simon said after the four-minute arraignment.

Besides the murder charge, Michael Gallow was indicted on a felony charge of third-degree criminal possession of weapon. He could be sentenced a maximum 25 years to life imprisonment if he is convicted of the murder charge.

Bernard Gallow, who was 58, worked at the sheriff’s department for 28 years before retiring in 2008. Since then he had served as a part-time security officer at county court.